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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Karl, The Meme has You...Again, Again

Once again, the Meme has arrived. This time the request is to share seven facts about myself. Thanks to Rachel and Jane and Rupa who tagged me for this meme.

I've been a little slow in blog entries so I got tagged multiple times and thanks to Janet and Cammy for passing the meme around (as per Jane's email.) Not sure just where or when this meme started. It would be an interesting exercise to trace memes and study them.

Anyway, this meme has four simple rules.

The Four Simple Rules:

Link your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
Let them know they’ve been tagged

So, seven facts about myself that I haven't shared before. Well before I do that, here are some links to previous memes entries.

Wake up Karl, the Meme has you.

Wake Up Karl, the Meme has you...Again

Here are seven new things:

1) Movies I enjoy watching almost all include Leslie Nielsen. Of course starting with the Airplane series and progressing (if I can use that word in this context)to The Naked Gun films to the Scary Movie saga. Always funny and engaging. I laugh everytime, I hear "We have to get this man to a hospital"..."Hospital, what is it?"..."It's a big building with patients...but that's not important right now."

or

"Surely there must be something you can do?"..."I'm doing everthing I can...and stop calling me Shirley."

As a reminder of part of Nielsen's body of work, here is a group of clips from Naked Gun and Airplane, its not all appropriate for work or even politically correct but most of it is funny.
*Look for OJ cameo.



2) I once wrote a joke book called "If Dan Qualye Can Get a Job, Why Can't I." It was a parody of all the job search books I was reading at the time. I no longer have the electronic copy but I think I have a hard copy somewhere. I think I should scan and put on the web some day.

3) All of my son's friends think its so cool that their Dad plays video games. Unfortunately my son's beat me all the time. They are great players. Currently we are playing three games in our house.


4) Speaking of James Bond, I like to drink (on occasion) a Dirty Vodka Martini Straight Up. Other times a simple Rum and Coke will do (and it has to be a coke, Rum and Pepsi is just not as good.)

5) For Christmas I got my brother-in-laws custom bobbleheads. Great gift idea. I sent in a photo and got a great realistic image of my brother-in-laws as bobbleheads. Lots of fun. You can check it out at Headbobble.

6) Even though I lived in the North all my life, I am really getting tired of snow. Every year I pledge to move south when January, February and March come along. Some day I will...maybe.

7) I've sort of, kind of, started another book. This one is about Learning in 3D and discusses Massively Multi-Learner Online Learning Environments (MMOLEs) and Virtual Worlds. The contract is not totally inked but it looks like it is going to happen...then another blog book tour which I completely enjoyed with my last book.

Ok, so who to tag

Ryan's The Learning Journal
Mark's Virtical Education
Joe's Learning Altitude
Susan's Leadership and Traning Innovations
Robyn and Brandy's DishingDesign
Ben's Learning Design and Performance Improvement
Lisa Neal Gualtieri's blog (which I don't think has a name)

And Happy New Year to All!
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Friday, December 26, 2008

ASTD's Big Question for December 2008: New Learning


The ASTD Big question this month is What did you learn about learning in 2008?

I learn so much all the time from students, clients and colleagues, it is hard to narrow it down to just two or three things, but I'll try.

Here are a few of the lessons I have learned. Mostly about finding a good "model" for mobile learning course design, how others tend to view immersive learning environments and how Social Media is taking off in the least likely places.

First I learned that the best mobile learning device has to be the Nintendo DS. The powerful little computer literally has dozens and dozens of games that teach every thing from Spanish to French to Problem-Solving and even how to cook. These games, are all designed by many different organizations but all have elements that can be easily applied to mobile learning designs. Too many mobile learning initiatives want to place entire courses on a mobile device...not good.

I wrote a number of posts this year about mobile learning:

Five Holiday Semi-Learning Related Games
How Widespread is Mobile Learning?
Mobile Learning Via Audio

Lesson One: If you want to find out how to create effective mobile learning, purchase a Nintendo DS and some educational games. Then begin to design your mobile learning objects.

Next, I learned that virtual worlds are starting to gain the attention of publications like the Harvard Business Review and that the need to understand how to effectively use this technology to teach is acute because many learning and development professionals still think the use of Virtual Worlds for Learning is over hyped.

Of course, I wrote a number of posts this year about virtual worlds:
Some Facts about Immersive Learning Worlds
We Have 2D Virtual Classrooms? Why 3D
Teaching Higher Order Skills in a Virtual World
Complaint? Students Don't Hang Out in Virtual Worlds After Class
Virtual Jeans=Real Jeans

Lesson Two: While there is a lot of press and buzz around Virtual Worlds, there's still not a great deal of understanding of how to create effective and meaningful instruction within virtual learning worlds. More work needs to be done to help education people about the possibilities and proper use of these spaces.

The third big learning was that organizations who seemed the least open, most secretive and most regulated jumped into Social Media with both feet while other industries are still floundering. Examples include the United States Intelligence community and the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer

I wrote a number of posts this year about Social Media for Learning:
Adopting Social Media in Your Organization: A Few Considerations
A Pharmaceutical Leveraging Web 2.0 --In a Big Way
Social Networking Not Corporate Enough for Your Company?
Pedia Palooza

Lesson 3: If highly regulated and highly secretive organizations can leverge Social Media for learning, any organization can overcome obstacles and leverage Social Media for Learning.

Those are a few of the lessons I've learning and I am sure there are so many more as I learning through blogging, writing articles, speaking with others, reading and being part of the overall learning and development community. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my knowledge this year!

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Three Vitrual World Learning Best Practices and A Holiday Greeting


Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, here is a little visual post card from Second Life wishing you and Your's a Great Holiday Season and a Happy New Year....plus some virtual world best practices thrown in as a gift>):

Three virtual world learning best practices to consider when implementing 3D worlds in 2009.

Introduce Virtual Learing Worlds in a face to face environment.Do not simply set the learners loose in the Virtual World environment the first time they are supposed to work or learn within that environment--they might panic. Instead provide a safe environment where a proctor or instructor is available to guide the learner the first time. After that, the implementation and use of the virtual world will be much easier.

Create realistic but not "to scale" areas and locations. In a virutal world, an avatar needs more room to walk down hallways and to move around objects than a real person in the physical world. For example, make the ceilings a little higher than normal because avatars will rez on top of each other and may get confused if their line of sight is the floor and because they may fly or may jump in the space. When designing a 3D learning space, consider the movement of the avatar and do not make the buildings 100% to scale.

Allow time for avatar customization. One of the advantages of a 3D learning worlds is that the dimension of personalization and looks can be added as opposed to 2D environments. However, that dimension cannot be explored if you do not allow time for avatar customization. Include that in any type of orientation you do for your learners in the 3D world. It may seem frivolous but contributes to the overall sense of identifying with the avatar.

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Monday, December 22, 2008

Adopting Social Media in Your Organization? A Few Considerations

Here are few things to consider if you want to help your organization adopt social media tools for learning.
  • Cultural influences in terms of sharing and open information is more important than the technology. An atmosphere of sharing is required for Social Media to be adopted. If people feel they will be punished or “get in trouble” for postings, Social Media will not work within the organization.

  • Social Media cannot replace all e-learning or stand up instruction, but it can reinforce, enhance, and enrich it.

  • Give people a few simple but firm guidelines and rules and then enforce that small set of rules vigorously. Expect mis-steps and wrong information but use those events as learning processes for the organization and individual.

  • While many of the Social Media tools seem intuitive, some learners will need to be oriented to Social Media in face-to-face sessions. Providing up-front assistance and training is essential for the majority of employees to adopt. A small group will adopt irregardless of training.

  • Consider starting with a simple, low risk item like a glossary of acronyms to allow employees to get comfortable with the concept of editing materials and then work to more comprehensive collaborative sites.

  • Prepare to scale quickly. One or two people using Social Media tools does not change an organization, even 200 makes little impact but 2000 people using Socail Media effects change.

  • Start with “seeded” wikis which provide basic information onto which others can being to add links, images and other contributes.

  • Create a rating/ranking system to identify widely popular or important Social Media elements and incorporate them into more formal learning process such as e-Learning modules.


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Thursday, December 18, 2008

The 2008 Top 3 Semi-Learning Related Books

Here are some great reads to take you into 2009 and to get you to think about technology, learning and games from a new perspective. They'd make great stocking stuffers for the geeky person on your Christmas list as well.

Number 3: Mastering the Hype Cycle: How to Choose the Right Innovation at the Right Time (Gartner) by Jackie Fenn and Mark Raskino



This book describes how a technology enters the collective awareness of everyone (read learning professionals) and then gets overhyped and then crashes and no one likes it any more but the small group of people who continue to plod along find the technology aids productivity. The learning and development industry seems particularly vulnerable to Hype Cycles. I've written about the concept in The Metaverse Hype, Decline and Realism Cycle--We've Seen It Before


Number 2: Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies (Forrester Research) by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

If you want to understand how Social Media or Web 2.0 or Informal Learning is impacting organizations and moving the power into the hands of individuals, this book is for you. It doesn't approach the topic from a learning perspective, instead it provides a much broader view and does a good job of explaining the impact these technologies are already having on organizations. My entry Pedia Palooza hits on some of the same issues by providing links to all types of social media articles.

Number 1: The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell

This book approaches the concept of game design by asking the reader to look at designing a game through a number of different lenes. In the book the author describes the activity of game design in a staight forward, enjoyable manner. What struck me about the book is how many of the concepts can be applied to almost any type of instructional design process. I also really like his list of 15 "Nitty-Gritty" brainstorming tips. Applicable for any brainstorming operation.

So there you have it, the 2008 Top 3 Semi-Learning Related books for you to read before 2009. :)


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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Five Holiday Semi-Learning Related Games

If you are doing some last minute shopping, here are some games that are semi-learning related and a lot of fun.

Number 5: Spanish for Everyone (Nintendo DS)


Nintendo DS has a number of educational games to teach a variety of subjects. This fun game challenges the player/learner with various Spanish words and phrases. As a player you take a journey to Mexico where different people you meet help you learn Spanish. (There is also a French and Japanese game for the Nintendo DS.)

Number 4: Brain Age (Nintendo DS)


Brain Age is actually a series of games. These games are a lot of fun and are a real challenge. You take an initial quiz and from that point forward engage in small quick little games that work your mind in new and complex ways. In one game you pick out letters from a moving stream of letters to correctly id a word. In another, you have to do quick math and you actually write your answer on your Nintendo DS. If you want a glimps into how engaging and interactive mobile learning can be then this game and the Nintendo game system is a great start.

Number 3: History Channel Civil War: Secret Missions
(PlayStation 2, 3, XBox360, PC)


Time for a little history. This game casts you in the role of a solider in the American Civil War and then you must fight behind enemy lines in the well known battles of the war. Your goal is to disrupt enemy by any means necessary, including conducting train raids, stealing ironclad ships, stopping enemy supply lines, destroying enemy artillery and the events are drawn from the real life actions of famous partisans, scouts and rangers. What a great way to "accidently" pick up some history. If you want to see how facts and concepts can be embedded into a strategy-type game, this is a good example.


Number 2: Wii Trauma Center Games (Wii)

The Trauma Center series has a bunch of different games. My favorite is still Trauma Center: Second Opinion. But New Blood has some neat new surgery as well. Learn about how doctors work and some medical terminology as you play the game. And, you can even get surgical accessories for the Wiimote which are interesting. If you want a glimpse into the future of interactive training for motorskills, this game is worth a look.

Number 1: Crazy Machines 2 (Windows 2000 / XP / Vista)


In this tools and machines-based game, you build imaginative machines in an environment that is creative and difficult but fun. As a player you turn cranks, rotate gears, pull levers, and other tools and machine related efforts to build unique contraptions. You have access to Physics engines with air-pressure, electricity, gravity, and particle effects. You can also experiment with gears, robots, and even explosives. All the mad science stuff you want to do in your garage but because of legal, health and compliance issues...you aren't able to do. Great simulations of experiments, and physics concepts.

If you know of any other games, please feel free to post in the comments. I'm always looking for neat semi-learning games, gizmos and gadgets.

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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Videos

Holidays can stress people out, so here are some lighthearted, funny videos that can add a smile to your face. Also, if you choose to think deeper about the content and how it applies to designing instruction and delivering instruction in our modern, fast-paced world...some are actually quite profound...enjoy.

Number 5: Wii Fit Parody

,

Here is my original blog post on Wii Fit Parody. Why in the Semi-Training Related series? Because it reminds me of the hype of "oh-so-many" training programs dreamed up by management.

Number 4: Second Life in Real Life


Why is it in the Semi-Training Related series? Because there is a lot of hype around 3D worlds like Second Life but many of the activities in those worlds are a little goofy...even if I do think 3D worlds actually are the future for teaching certain topics online.

Number 3: YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

Here is my original post on this social media improvement effort. Why is it in the Semi-Training Related series? Because it makes you think that perhaps you need a few parameters for helping people within your organization understand the best way to post Social Media-type entries into your corporate YouTube, Wiki or Blogs. We want to encourage users to create their own "learning events" but we as ISD folks need to create some parameters around that process.

Number 2: Death Star Help Desk Interview


Here is my original post on the Death Star Help Desk post. Why is it in the Semi-Training Related series? Because training and "help desks" are so intertwined and helpdesk issues, if tracked properly, become part of training...but some things just can't be "trained." And because I've made the "ID Ten T" error millions of times.

Number 1: Building a "Stop Sign"


This video is in the semi-training collection because it is so scary...its funny.
I love this line, "We are primarily targeting women but also targeting men secondarily"...It seems client always wants online learning to teach as much information to as many people as possible but still...they always have some sort of "target audience" in mind (and then they wonder why the online learning isn't as effective as it could be??)

So, anyone who has worked with an instructional design or training client has encountered this scenario. I love the women who announces that "Fire Engine" Red is owned by the fire company...a stakeholder arises out of nowhere and changes the scope...oh I've so been there. That is why this is the number one Top 5 Funny and Semi-Learning Related Video.

Here is my original post on Building a Stop Sign.

Hope you got a laugh out of the videos and that they made you think a little about learning events...let's not take ourselves too seriously and let's always have fun.

If you know of other funny semi-learning related videos, please post a link in the comments...share the laughs.
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Monday, December 15, 2008

Let's Not Pretend





Ok, let's make a deal. I will not pretend to be a salesperson, a doctor, a banker...if...(and I said if) these people stop pretending to be instructional designers and/or trainers?



Why do organizations take people with no formal training in instructional design, adult education or anything close and make them a trainer/instructional designer. It is not fair to that person and it is not fair to the trainees within the organization.

Organizations do it because the people they choose are "Good at what they do?" or "Have been with the organization a long time." or "Are good at speaking in front of people" or "Know a lot about the subject."

None of which qualifies them to design, develop and/or deliver instruction...none.

Please why can't organizations hire people with the right degrees and right knowledge for the right job???

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Friday, December 12, 2008

Training: A Bottleneck

Recently I've been working with a couple of organizations that have related but not exactly the same problem. At one organization, the training of a new employee takes so long that managers and supervisors are becoming frustrated at the slowness of the rate of preparation. It is almost 6-8 weeks of nothing but training.

At another organization, employees get hired but the training is not "available" because of timing issues or not enough trainers so new employees finally get into the "orientation class" six months after they are hired. By that time bad habits are formed or they know so much they could be teaching the class. Not enough classrooms, instructors or, in some cases, students to run the classes.

In both cases, training has become a bottleneck. It is not longer assisting the organizations for which it is designed to serve. In one case, training takes so long that the cost and effort is almost not worth it because the needed employees take so long to get up to speed. In the second case, by the time the training is delivered its too late.

In both cases, the solution is to disaggregate the training. The problem is that organizations view training through the narrow lens of classroom training. In both of these organizations, the view is that classroom training must occur and it must dictate the entire learning process. This view is not scalable. It is not sustainable.

Instead, if the training was brought to the learner instead of taking the learner to the training, the individual employees could be more productive sooner or get the necessary training they need sooner. In fact, I don't think we should call it training at all...call it Learning Events.

Now, the first organization could provide a short 1/2 day orientation overview and then allow employees to go back to the job and work through a series of online modules. Some could be self-paced but some could be virtual classrooms that are instructor-based. This would allow a mixture of "formal" instruction, informal instruction by peers and self-directed instruction. The 6 week training class should be modularized and presented in small increments with exercises, assignments and mentoring interspersed. This would allow the learner to contribute to the organization in small pieces rather than trying to "train up" a person before they ever arrive on the job. Giving someone 6 weeks of "out of context instruction" doesn't work. They need to have real work assignments and tasks onto which they can ground their learning.

This would also help in the second case as well. The new employees could attend training to get an overview and then take individual learning events to supplement the on-the-job learning and they could become more productive more quickly.

The answer is to create a learning process in which some of the learning is in the classroom, some is on the job through e-learning and some is mentoring and some is escalation of assignments. We really need to get away from learning being anchored by a classroom event and expand learning throughout the enterprise to encompass many small learning events that lead to an employee who is knowledgable in his or her assignments.

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Great Machinima about Machinima

Check out this great video explaining machinima by a former student of mine...she has exceeded her professor as all good student do.


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Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Upcoming Webinar: Communicating with the Next Generation

Here is some information for a webinar I am doing this Friday. The webinar is titled "Communicating with the Next Generation." Here is the description of the event. Be sure to register


Communicating with Today's Generation
Date: Friday, December 12, 2008 10:00 a.m. MST
Length: 90 minutes

Description:
Are your classroom lectures designed to teach the new generation of students? One raised on a steady diet of video games, electronic gadgets and the Internet? Confused by the correct use of Wikis, Blogs, IM and Podcasts for the classroom? Ever wonder how to communicate with the ever-connected, but seemingly isolated, new generation of students? Then this webinar is for you. Based on the hot selling book, "Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning," Dr. Karl M. Kapp will explain how and why the incoming "gamer generation" requires major changes in instructional delivery methods and techniques. He will also explain steps and tips for reaching today's generation through the use of their own "New Media".

Register Now!

NetWorks webinars are free online seminars presented by subject matter experts. The audio and visual portions are conducted through Elluminate, a free online web conferencing service. For more details about this and other upcoming webinars, visit the NetWorks Webinar Calendar.

Past Webinar Recordings:
Did you happen to miss a NetWorks webinar? Search NetWorks Digital Library for past webinars to listen, watch, and learn.


Hope to virtually see you there.
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Monday, December 08, 2008

Cost Consious Gift Idea

It is always so hard to determine what type of corporate or academic gift is appropriate for clients, co-workers collegue or your boss? What do you get them that is not too expensive but not too inexpensive, that is business or instructionally-focused but not boring. With these tough economic times, such decisions can be difficult.

However, I think the perfect answer is Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning., it is fun but serious, informative but easy-to-read, insightful but not overly academic. Check it out as a gift for yourself, your entire team or your client.

Here is what ASTD's Magazine, T&D had to say about Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning.
[This book, like others, talks about] the impending retirement of baby boomers and how companies are dealing with the critical knowledge transfer that needs to take place.

But what makes this book different is its unique approach to the knowledge-transfer issue...This book is a valuable resource for any business looking to find practical solutions to the boomer-gamer knowledge-transfer gap. It reveals new methods and tools that are being used successfully in a variety of settings, including Flash mobs and cheat codes, video iPods, instant messaging and blogging.

Several of people I know from the field have sent copies to clients and co-workers as gifts. So if you need a last minute gift...


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Saturday, December 06, 2008

Pedia Palooza

Lately there has been a lot of buzz about using Social Networking software and techniques in organizations. I've written about a number of uses:

Social Networking Not Corporate Enough for Your Company?

A Pharmaceutical Leveraging Web 2.0 --In a Big Way

I have recently, given a presentation on the topic.
Wikis, Blogs and Social Networks Presentation Materials

And I have noticed a number of other Social Networking uses in corporate and government arenas focusing on a Wikipedia-style open exchange of information.

How about the intelligence community's use of Intellipedia.

Or the FBI's use of Bureaupedia

Or the US State Department's use of Diplopedia.

Of course we know software companies have been doing things like making the Microsoft's Developer wiki public for a while. It is called the MSDN wiki. But somehow a software company doing Social Media doesn't have the same Wow impact as say a bank...

Wachovia Bank now part of Citigroup has a wiki they are slowly rolling out. You can read about it in Wachovia Turns To Wikis, Blogs To Support Growth

To see a great list of all types of organizations using blogs, check out Fortune 500 Business Blogging Wiki which provides a large list of customer facing blogs created by large corporations.

Also, here is a thought provoking presentation titled Learning from Wikipedia: Open Collaboration within Corporations.

If you know of any examples of internal or external social media in corporations or even schools...please leave a link or a reference in the comments.
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Thursday, December 04, 2008

Shout Out: Rachel Troychock

Speaking of alumni (see yesterday's post)

This month ASTD's magazine T&D featured one of Bloomsburg University's Instructional Technology alumni, Rachel in their article FUTURE LEADERS 2020. The article is about up and comming folks and what they are doing in the field of learning and e-learning.

Here is what the magazine said about Rachel:
Rachel Troychock is technology based learning manager at KPMG. Currently, she is leading an initiative to incorporate the use of Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and wikis into learning. Previously, she was an instructional designer responsible for developing learning for large real estate agencies.
If you'd like to read the article yourself, you can click on December T&D Magazine here.

If you'd like to read more about what Rachel's doing check out her blog Rachel's eLearning Blog

I've blogged about Rachel's presentations before. Here she is with fellow alumni Pete Mitchell talking about using vodcasting for e-learning on this very blog.

So a big CONGRATULATIONS to RACHEL. It is awesome to see alumni making an impact in the field, blogging and getting involved with the industry. Keep up the good work, you make us proud.
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Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Blog Field Trip-"Virtical" Education

Today I thought a blog field trip would be fun. What is a blog field trip?

Well, if you regularly view this blog and leave a comment or just lurk (which is great as well). Today, I thought you could spend your time at "Virtical" Education and leave a comment there or lurk on that site. Like an actual field trip, visiting another blog will give you a new perspective and something to think about. New surroundings. This one is by one of our alumni and has already received a comment from another alumni. Blogs...a great way to keep in touch.

I left a comment on post on the entry "Hybrid lives at home, but not at school?" I encourage you to leave a post on that entry as well. See you over there!

Our last field trip was a visit to Cognitive Technologies.

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Tuesday, December 02, 2008

For Sale---Test Space

Well commercialization has finally impacted something as neutral and seemingly advertisement free as a student's math test. A calculus teacher in San Diego, California sells ads on his test papers: $10 for a quiz, $20 for a chapter test and $30 for a semester final.

Check out the USA Today article Ads on tests add up for teacher for more price quotes and information. But why stop at tests? Imagine for a moment, negotiating with a business minded educator such as myself...

If you are curious, yes, I will accept advertisement payment for tests, homework assignments, quizzes, even space on my PowerPoint slides. In fact, my forehead and even my stomach area are available for ad space as are the bottom of my shoes and the back of my knees. In fact, if you pay me enough I'll just pass out ads to students without any educational value. If you want a billboard in my classroom, give me a call. Also, the sides of my car are available


But seriously...ads on tests? Not Good.

In fact schools are a little too commercial as is...on the other hand if state, local and federal government keeps underfunding education, what are the alternatives?
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