Safe Distance Education "Reimagine Education Virtually"

We are experiencing a paradigm shift in Education. To reopen schools, we need to reimagine education. I have been teaching within the DOE for 11 years, a journey that began with the NYC Teaching Fellows program in 2009. Before teaching, I was a Community Organizer, and I spent ten years in the corporate world of public relations, advertising, and media. I am now a Ph.D. candidate with a focus on Learning, Instruction, and Innovation. One of my goals is to achieve academic and social-emotional learning through innovation.

As we made a rapid transition to online learning (RTOL) through the adoption of educational technology and sheer necessity, COVID-19 revealed a vulnerability within our K-12 educational infrastructure. Distance learning may be new to many in K-12 educators, however, it is an established model in higher education. As we reopen our schools and unpack triumphs and missteps, we can "reimagine education" in a virtual community. I want to call it "Safe Distance Education," where schools offer logistical options based on student and community safety regulations, avoid future school shutdowns, and finally move into the 21st-Century. 

Inner Demons

Sometimes we personify mental illness and label it as our “Inner demons.”

So many people live with dark self-loathing. It’s so much more common than people admit.

It starts off as a whisper and rolls into a scream so piercing it’s hard to hear anything else.

Our inner enemy preventing the quiet moments and the opposite of reason.

And we try to hide it, and some take pills to fight it.

Society tells us not to show it because it’s shameful to show weaknesses.

They will call you crazy…They say, they will judge you and dismiss your wisdom.

It is easier to call someone crazy than to call it what it really is, mental illness.

We need to stop this stigma.

The real sickness is not admitting that it is a sickness.

And somehow, it’s more socially acceptable for females to own their pain.

Boys and men are told to “man up” and stop “crying like a girl.”

Meanwhile, what’s the common denominator of mass shootings???

BOYS who repress their anger and pain.

And males take their lives more often.

We need to tell them, Look for the helpers.

I’ve lost too many friends to this disease & I won’t ever be free.

I don’t judge them or say that they gave up.

I’m sure they didn’t see another way out.

But we always have a choice.

We can let our inner demons out and let our angels fly.

We got to talk about it, and we cannot wait.

There will never be a better time if there is no tomorrow.

Let there be a tomorrow, and let’s start now!

Getting Psyched for our Summer of 2019 Road Trip by making a video of our 2018 Summer Road Trip...

"Gif 4 U & Yo' Trapp" (Original Music Video)

Hello World -- I just composed a new EDM song. It's 2:22 long. Today, I am inspired to bring about social change and this video tells you simple ways you can make the world a better place. I produced this song using the Soundtrap online platform. I used free .gifs from Giphy.com and slapped it together with iMovie. (All for FREE) Hope you enjoy. SUBSCRIBE to my channel and I will make more videos, (not just educational) and re-start my #NYCSchoolsTech Podcast soon. I promise!

This video was also made because I am psyching myself up to finish my final papers for this Ph.D. cycle.

Please leave comments on YouTube SUBSCRIBE to my channel!

XOXO...
Nancella
@ Sorry Busy Take Care

I got TENURE, YAY!!!!!

Music Video & Song inspired by a Hot Wheels Taco Truck - "Tiny Taco Trucks"

When I was making birthday Loot Bags for one of my sons, I became inspired by a Hot Wheels car and I made a song... Tiny Taco Trucks... Voila.........

Sound Recording: www.soundtrap.com
Pictures by me and video on iMovie

Made with Love,

SorryBusyTakeCare
-aka- Nancy Ribak Altadonna
-aka- Nancella

Music Video: Spooky & Update (Summer in NYC 2019)

I took all the pictures with my iPhone, produced the song using Soundtrap and video using iMovie.

See.... Not ALL Work. Some times, I play. 

Enjoy.

My eLearning Course: "Agriculture & Early Civilizations" - VIDEOS - Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

Course Introduction

Navigation of the eLearning Course 
 

Module 1 Intro

Module 2 Intro 

Module 3 Intro

 

 Agriculture & Early Civilizations - Course Link

Been busy working on a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on Learning, Instruction, & Innovation [PROOF]

This is my Finalized Multimedia Presentation for my Innovation & Diffusion of Learning Technologies course.

Topic: Big History Project

According to the course final project, here are the requirments:

1. Establish the need for your innovation in your chosen workplace.
2. Provide brief research that supports the need for innovation, both in your chosen workplace, and in the field in general.
3. Provide a brief overview of the development and commercialization of your innovation. This should include a basic timeline of trends or milestones in the adoption of your innovation.
4. Discuss potential obstacles that may be encountered in the adoption or implementation of your innovation, such as costs, resistance by other stakeholders, etc. This could be the material you created on early adopters and laggards.
5. Discuss specific strategies about how these obstacles will be overcome. How will you convince the laggards?
6. Successfully use a persuasive tone, targeting a “board of directors” (real or fictional) and convince them that the proposed innovation will have a significant impact and create positive change in your industry.
7. End with a lasting impact image. This image/message should be designed to leave a lasting impact on your board of directors. This should show that you have assumed the role of “champion” by convincing them that your organization cannot accomplish its goals without using this innovation.

I earned 85.5 points out of 88 potential points. It was scored fairly and I am happy!

Leadership for Social Change - Infographic

My Global Studies & Innovation Padlet

https://padlet.com/nribakaltadonna1/GlobalStudies

Innovation Curriculum Video about Student PSA podcast

Calling all 9th and 10th grade history teachers...

I made this video proposal as part of my Innovation Curriculum coursework at Walden University. The purpose is to outline the project and partner with other teachers.

I'm proud of how it came out and I hope you will agree. 'Like' it and comment if you would like to share your thoughts. If you're interested in partnering, we should talk further.

Click on the link below to learn about my Student Voice Podcast:
Student Podcast Curriculum by Nancy Ribak Altadonna

Education Video: My Student Podcasting Curriculum Unit

Hello, teachers and learning leaders!

Are you interested in student podcasting within your content area?! In this narrated curriculum unit video, I show you how to do just that in an informative, fun, and unscripted format and with professional slides. Watch, Like, Subscribe, and Share... I also made a PowerPoint, I am happy to share. Please inquire within. Use me!

Disclaimer: Please note this video does not represent the views and it not affiliated with the New York City Department of Education or Fort Hamilton High School. I just happen to work there.

How to Integrate Podcasting into your curriculum

Yours Truly,
Nancy Ribak Altadonna

#NYCSchoolsTech Podcast #1

My 10-Day Record of Networking - Nancy Ribak Altadonna

My 10-Day Record of Networking - Nancy Ribak Altadonna

Nancy Ribak Altadonna - A Short Bio and Memories of Innovation

I grew up in San Antonio; have lived in San Francisco, Israel, and Miami Beach before relocating to NYC 13 years ago. In 2009 I "found my calling" as a career-changing NYC Teaching Fellow. Before education, I worked in media; individually, public relations and advertising and spent over a decade deejaying in student radio, dance parties, and clubs. I earned my Bachelors in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin, M.S.Ed from LIU, and I am working towards a Ph.D. with a focus on Learning, Instruction, & Innovation which should combine my academic and personal passions. I teach 9^th Grade World History in a large public high school also in Brooklyn. 

I am a digital immigrant, I was not born before the widespread adoption of digital technology. I have vivid memories of adopting technology ever since my big brother brought home Pong on Atari. It was mesmerizing. My tape recorder was my favorite toy as a child. My first paid internship was at the defunct peer-to-peer FTP site called Audiogalaxy. I remember how I explained what an ‘MP3’ was to record labels before Napster existed. My first job out of college was based in San Francisco where I worked on this new thing called the Internet. I became a teacher as a second career 9 years ago, and part of the reason I’m focusing on Innovation is that I want to meld my original media focus and educational career together.

I believe that the best educators are forward-thinking and adaptive to new technologies. Digitial Natives will enter a workforce of less traditional occupations; they will need to be motivated, entrepreneurial and techno-literate to compete in this world. I want to play a relevant role in that future which is why I'm pursuing this path.

Please feel free to add me to your PLN (Professional Learning Network) 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sorrybusytakecare

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nancella/

“Like” it or “React” to it?

During Lent and Passover, we are mindful. On that, this question is why do we or why do we not “like” a post vs “love” it? If we leave our fingers a little longer we “react” with love or something more than “like”....❤️ ⏱ Is it bc of time? Seconds spent on spreading ❤️ love and ❤️ the accompanying ❤️ endorphins are well spent. 

Mindful moments made easy. Comments go beyond. FB made a shortcut to show emotions. We can tap a bit slower & help somebody feel a little better & have a mindful moment for goodness and goodness’ sake. ❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️ 

Movie Review: Justice League (2017)

Warning...

SPOILER ALERT:

I didn’t get to see DC’s Justice League at a movie theatre for many reasons. I finally saw it and I found Justice League very disapointing! This is my review of why the first live-action Justice League movie did not live up to my childhood and adulthood expections...

The plot is flat and tiresome....there was way too much time spent on the death of Superman! Brooding, whining, and no connections in those sequences. No images of hope until the last few minutes of the very hyped up film. Actually the time investment on hopelessness is the opposite of the Justice League and what it stands for. I gotta go on... it’s riddled with vague character development. On that... I believe it was a poor choice that the central character was just Batman. Sadly, Batman is unlikeable and delivers cliche lines. But, that Mercedes is sick! In that one scene I liked when Barry Allen asked Bruce Wayne “What’s your superpower?” To which he responded with honest cocky delivery... “I’m rich!” Yes!!!! But, for the rest of the movie, Batman’s guilt and desire to make amends isn’t characteristic of who Batman is and this character is not written or directed as it should be. Ben is better than that, but he needs more to work with.

Then...there’s Wonder Woman who is supposed to embody female empowerment, but she does pretty much the opposite, what!?!?! It didn’t connect to her glorious movie at all. Why? I grew up wearing Wonder Woman underroos until they made me wear a braw. I looked up to her as I look up to Gal. Speaking of... Gal: I love you, kween! You are such a great choice for Wonder Woman. Love yourself, girl! They didn’t do your character justice. Pun intended.

The central plot is in building a team of reluctant superheros who can’t seem to do anything without the leadship of Superman?!?! That’s ridiculous and lame! Then, once this team comes together, the first order of business is to bring Superman back from the dead. Uhhh, necromancy, wuh huh, gross, just weird and wrong! Mission accomplished but he is not even Superman and then he only acts like Superman for 5 minutes which is of course just enough time to swoop in and save the day..... making every other hero look like an effin’ amateur. I can’t!

So... Let’s discuss the villain... The Big Bad antagonist just isn’t interesting, or fun to hate. He has no good lines and he isn’t scary. Well, actually, there were likeable moments of the film  about his past; the memory sequences showing Steppenwolf’s backstory are quite beautiful.

Other highlights...The Flash is funny and true to his character. He pulls it off and I want more of him. And... To a lesser extent Aquaman does hold my attention well, but he doesn’t have enough lines and his scenes don’t further the plot forward enough.

The Bottomline: I find it ironic that the central focus is team building but doesn’t make me believe in teamwork. In the end, the movie merely suggests a future organization which will be called the Justice League. I wanted to see the JLA in action. Not the meta teamwork angle of JLA, the team itself promoting “truth, Justice, and the American way.” We need superheros because they bring us hope. The movie demonstrated the void of hope many people feel today anyway and that’s why I wanted this to be a different movie altogether.

Ok, I didn’t just find it boring, I thought it sucked! (By the way, this review is coming from a person who didn’t hate the Daredevil movie with Ben & Jen.) I could go on but I just committed an act of overkill like the movie did with the “death” of Superman. 

P.S. I already bought first showing advance tickets to Avengers: Infinity War which comes out on April 27th 2018. It will go down in history as the most expensive movie ever made. Disney gave it a billion dollar budget. One billion dollars! It’s got everyone who matters from Marvel. I know it will live up to the hype!

Am Ode to the NRA

There is tragedy and sorry doesn’t say it, 

neither does anger or amazement. 

No prayers. 

No letting it be. 

It’s too much...not enough....personal and sadly even with real faces, the crime is still faceless... 

ENDOMETRIOSIS & being half a woman (j/k)

I have never before spoken about ENDOMETRIOSIS online... For those of you who don't know about it, it is a fairly common incurable disease which affects an estimated one out of ten women who may never know for sure that they have it unless they have to have surgery. I've been battling with Endometriosis for 30 years. I've done every surgery and hormone therapy that there is and defied the odds by having two beautiful children. Now this disease has worsened and has become a daily struggle, instead of a monthly one. It's affecting my quality of life as it has advanced to the point of binding organs together, so its time to say goodbye to my reproductive tract, once and for all and cut out all the internal scar tissue.

I'm officially scheduled for the procedure on March 1st, however, I have all my pre-surgery hospital clearance taken care of and my surgeon says I have a chance of getting into surgery this week. That's what I REALLY WANT! Hey, It's Flu Season and I'm first on the waiting list, so... It sounds awful and uncharacteristic of me to wish ill upon others, but I could really use a break. Fingers crossed that I get to have the surgery this week!!!

There is great news here: I don't have cancer as I previously feared and I will have no chance of having ovarian cancer in the future. No more periods, hey.... AND....I do have a caring family and a supportive work family. I'm full of confidence in my doctors and I know this is the best course of action. "This too shall pass." I will go on to live a normal life and things will get even better.

There are many things which will be temporarily put on hold like my doctoral work and my career, etc... And even though it's beyond my control, taking an "incomplete" in my current course makes me feel like a failure. On another bright side, I have a supportive professor who will help me see this through. But, I have to take a whole semester off of grad school and 2-4 weeks off of teaching. I love learning and I love teaching and I don't like the reality of putting things on hold. I KNOW... "health comes first" and my feelings of defeat are irrational.

If you read down this far, thanks for listening! I'm oversharing and being highly emotional, but I needed that. Also, to anyone who clicked on a feeling, thanks for caring! XOXO...