Awesomeness!!

The Language Today WordPress blog is picking up viewers; I've received some good feedback. We still do not have any volunteers at the moment but I realize now that these things take time.

There are some ideas that I have been toying with; I noticed that YouTube has extended the amount of space for video uploading. With that said, the original intent of this program was to be an audio podcast. Well, now I'm considering a 2 part segment, each fifteen minutes long, recorded on YouTube. I already have a good videocamera and it's digital.

December 1st is fast approaching and I think I'm going to have to pull a night where I stay up an hour later than normal, just to make sure I am able to turn the Pepsi grant in. When I tried to enter the grant, I was unable to submit due to entry limitations. Pepsi allows the first thousand applications and they they cut off until the next cycle, which is usually a month later. And the time of first entry is midnight. So, the goal is to stay up until 1am to make sure I am able to submit.

Wish me luck.

Keep going

I have been doing a few plugs for the WordPress blog on LinkedIn.com. The WordPress blog is still seeing some visitors now. There have been some responses to the volunteer flyers from Union students. Just recently, I posted a plug on Craigslist, so we shall see what happens.

Grant Writing

It's been a week since the flyers have been posted. Go figure! Today, while on campus, I just noticed that I didn't cut the areas with the phone number. How silly of me!

I tried to turn in the grant and will be unable to do so until December 1st. Pepsi only takes in 1000 applications at a time. So say a prayer or send energy.

PROGRESS!!!

Ok, as some of you know that we have the blog on WordPress.

Union did approve the flyers, it was just some slight mix up with the flyer.

Today, I received an email from a student worker from Union asking for information for students and teachers about the podcast project. So tomorrow, I am going to the school to pick up the flyer and distribute them. Meanwhile, I am turning in my grant packet in 2 more weeks.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN

We are officially on WordPress.com. The site url is http://languagetoday.wordpress.com.

This is going to serve as the official mouthpiece for the Language Today program until I am able to get approval from schools to recruit volunteers to assist with recording.

I have sent emails to schools in Jackson, TN in order to get approval for posting volunteer flyers. Wish me luck. My next step in a few months will be to start recruiting for Memphis volunteers. Those schools will include Rhodes College, Lemoyne-Owen, Christian Brothers University, and the University of Memphis. But I'm just going to have to learn to continue to think big yet start small.

Pushing through

Flyers for volunteer interests have been created. I have a website that I will use for this program on Weebly.com. Im still waiting to hear back from Union on approval to post flyers. Its been really crazy up there with the student camps and the school starting this week. I have seen a copy of the flyer to Lambuth,Lane, Freed Hardman University, and Jackson State Community College. I and planning on sending this flyer to University of Memphis, Rhodes College, Lemoyen Owen College, and Christian Brothers University next month. It sounds crazy to wait but I would like to make sure we already have something already established here in Jackson before dropping ship in Memphis.

As I have been rethinking this show, I have decided to officially set up for 6 shows but I still want to do 12 if possible. I want to leave some room for error and research. Plus Im back in school myself. So, I have decided to pick up a second blog to serve as the official blogsite. That way, while waiting to staff volunteers, I may post an article or two to the blog. If any of you are technicalogically advanced, I could use some help with blogtalkradio. Im considering using that as the host for the podcast recordings.

We also have a LinkedIn forum site. Updates are pending but if you want to sign up go here

Moving right along...

The handbook is finished. I am creating a survey on GoogleDocs to post on places like LinkedIn, Meetup, and Facebook so that people outside email contacts are able to access. I can't believe it a almost a month away for the first meeting!!

My next step is to secure a laptop and room. Details later on in the week.

STILL WORKING

Im sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have just been reviewing research and finishing up the volunteer packet and I will be setting a date for the interest meeting. The tentative date is Sept. 8, 2010. Later this summer, the website should be ready. Tentative date is August 15th.

Pending List part 2

The list grows and grows and grows

Classical Languages
College Preparatory
Discipline
Assessment
Various literacies (writing, reading, speaking, listening)
Faculty Support
Dealing with Parents
Working with students with various fluency levels
Garnering student interests
Making target language practical
Perception of parents
Pedagogical training specific to school's education philosophy
Heritage Languages
Sociolinguistics
Immigration
Speech Pathology

The Latest Thing

So I have finished creating the Student Interest Survey and the Handbook, which includes the 5 year plan. I start back to school in the summer so I will work on flyers for the interest meeting them. Therapy is going well. I have 4 weeks left,so once that is done, I can focus my efforts a little harder for this project.

Another change

Well, if you been reading along with the blog from the beginning, you may recall that I wanted to do 48 episodes a year. How unrealistic! So then I decided on 36 episodes. Ix-nayed that idea when I looked at my own personal list of topics. Then I figured 24 would be decent. Yes and no. It was my goal to get the ball rolling this summer on the project. Although schools will have summer sessions, I have serious doubts that there will not be much interest seeing that students may go on summer trips, are working and will have no time. I myself will be going back to work but will continue to set everything in order. It doesn't make much sense to have an interest meeting in May to only wait 3 months for the first meeting.

As a result, I decided to go with a minimum of 12 episodes, at least for the first year. Now we if we can get away with doing 24, AWESOME!! Maybe the second year we can get away with doing 24 episodes.

Until then, i will work on other parts necessary (i.e. the handbook, the Proboards site, Ning.com page, and position of interest surveys) and continue to fine tune the plan for this program.

There is something else I am thinking. This would make for a killer non-profit organization.

A Pending List

I'm getting a wonderful response from teachers so far. Here is a list so far of topics and I am sure this list will get bigger.

Topics
Classical Languages
College Preparatory
Discipline
Assessment
Various literacies (writing, reading, speaking, listening)
Faculty Support
Dealing with Parents
Working with students with various fluency levels
Garnering student interests
Making target language practical
Perception of parents
Pedagogical training specific to school's education philosophy

Whew! Phase 1 almost complete

So I have sent out probably quite a few sets of emails (4 mass, possibly 7 individuals) all attached with surveys. I am anticipating quite a few 'nos' but I know that there were be some 'yeses'. I heard from two teachers in the Memphis private school sector. One of which threw an idea that I haven't even considered. He is a teacher whose focus is in classical languages.

When I first created this project, I think I took for granted that classical languages are foreign languages that are no longer used in general conversation but they are still foreign languages that can be used in areas outside of law or medicine like art history, archeology, religious/spiritual studies, linguistics, etc. This is making me rethink some recording ideas (in a good way).

NEW DIRECTION

I think I just had an A HA! moment. As I have been working towards making a podcast program possible, I had to come to a realization that I may need to start off with paper or ezine route. My laptop has kicked the proverbial bucket. So now my next step is to look up teachers that work in foreign languages/ ESL for the purpose of sending a brief survey in creating topics that teachers/ students are interested in discussing.

The next step afterwords, will be to set up a meeting for volunteers and continue to do research. The more I move with this, I am learning so much and am grateful for this experience. I can't wait for the end results regardless if we actually start the podcast this summer or if we just have to have a website or proboards forum first.

So,here is a general breakdown of the plan as of now

I. Search grants/ find funding
II.Survey teachers/college students via email or in person
III. Advertise for Volunteers
IV. Prepare for Interest Meeting (prepare survey for Volunteers)
V. Interest Meeting
VI. Staff Volunteers according to interest
VII. First meeting

Moving Along

I just finished the Pepsi Grant challenge. The deadline is April 1st. That gives me room to edit and think things through. I would have turned it in this month but I realize that I have been unrealistic in some of the goals I had as far as the show's progress.

I still intend to get students from schools in Memphis and Jackson. I realize that having a smaller base would be in the best interest of a start up.

In the original plan, I had 49 episodes. Then I knocked it down to 36. Again, I do realize that room for error must be made so I have elected for 24 episodes. In this way, if there is something that needs to be corrected, then there is not a need to rush. These things take time and I want this to go swimmingly.

Grant preparation and Reconsiderations

I am still working on the Refresh grant. As I am working though this project, there are many thoughts that go through my mind. I must admit that a very bad habit of is biting off more than I can chew.

I pulled the original plan that was created in the Curriculum Development course to see what I was feeling that could be off. The more I looked at what I am proposing for Refresh Everything and what I created in the class, its time to look at reality in the face.

As a result, this is what I have decided for right now:
- As nice as it would be for high school students to be able to get involved in such a project there are many things that I must consider. The first year of operation should not include high school students. Since the first year will be spent developing the program, it is important that there is a structure already in place, even if it is a flexible structure before students on the high school are involved.

-I am going to rework the original project to cater to 24 episodes. While working on the grant, it asked for deliverables. I believe I can get away with 48 but I have to be honest about a few things. I may not mind making that many episodes, even if that means shooting two at a time. However, this is the first year of the program. I see it is only fair to not create hectic schedule, especially since we haven't got to the staffing of volunteer stage. 24 episodes is a happy medium. In this way, there will be no pressure to create 48 episodes and burn ourselves out in the process.

Well, my thoughts are running low for the night so we will continue this conversation later.

Media Galore

I have to say to anyone who is a grant writer, you have my undying respect. Pepsi has the Refresh Everything grant in which they give out 10 awards a month. For more information, you can go to www.refresheverything.com.

As I have been filling out the form, I have been extremely excited for the possibility of Language Today become more and more of a reality but at the same time shocked. I am getting a crash course in grant writing.

I have also created a forum on proboards. It will more than likely be a month before I can start inviting participants.

In the event, that I am not able to find funding for the project, I have looked into free hosting. The wonderful engine, Google has free hosting and websites. Once I am able to get the website up, it will be the languagetodayproject.org.

THOUGHTS ON SPACE

The last post focused on staffing and equipment needed for developing this podcast program. There are some things that I haven't given thought to. I planned for there to be a total of two meeting spots: one in Jackson and one in Memphis. Then I realized that it may be difficult. If I involve high school students in the process or working students, location is key. Not everyone that has interest in participating in this project in Memphis or Jackson will be able to travel.

I know I could probably use skype as a way to bring interested persons in contact without having to travel. However, I feel that it's best to have these meetings with everyone in person while assigning positions and creating shows. Once volunteer positions are set, then I can communicate with volunteers via email, internet forums, and in person.

I haven't considered meeting places up until lately. Meeting rooms on school campuses and coffeeshops are possibilities. However, many libraries with meeting rooms used for study are small and the meeting rooms at the libraries cost. The college campuses offer less costly options. I could use rooms that are not in use for at least an hour. The rooms are available for larger size groups.

As far as coming up with a times, I realize that if there are high school volunteers involved, it would have to be late afternoons during weekdays or mid-mornings on Saturdays. Which makes me realize why meeting at libraries would not work: limited amount of meeting spaces and hours of operation.

In order to find meeting rooms, I would classroom schedules at certain buildings. In Memphis, I realize that there are many Universities such as University of Memphis, Lemoyne Owen, Rhodes, Christian Brothers, and Union University. Because of its central location, I prefer to the facilities at the University of Memphis. For meetings in Jackson, I prefer to have meetings at Union because of their facilities and its easy access off the interstate.

Of course, after finding out what rooms are available for use, I will contact the hall that the room is located and see if there are any special protocols for reserving the rooms.

That is all I have for today. It will probably a month or two before you hear from me. I am having major surgery on Monday and will need time to heal up before being able to type.

STAFFING & EQUIPMENT

First off, before I begin, I hope you had a wonderful holiday and awesome new years. I am still waiting to find out whether or not I will need surgery. I had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.

I have been thinking about the staffing. I figured that it would be best to find volunteers. Recruitment will be directed at college students(all levels-undergrad, grad, etc.) and high school students involved in organizations such Future Educators of America or foreign language clubs within in the Southwest Tennessee area (Shelby, Tipton, Fayette, Haywood, & Madison). I had thought about including college students in Northwest Mississippi and Central & Northeast Arkansas. I think it would be best to just start with West Tennessee, to see how the program development progresses.

As far as recruiting, I will send emails to local Universities and school boards. Emails will also be sent to private schools and homeschool programs.

When considering students and their interests for staffing purposes, I will be looking for students in the following areas of study: Education, Education Research, foreign languages/foreign language education, Teaching English as a Second Language, Intercultural Studies, Sociology, Broadcast Communication, Teacher Education, Psychology, Journalism, Advertising, Economics, Arts, Linguistics, Graphic Design/Multimedia, Literature, and History.

For the consideration of high school students, I will rely on recommendations from the high school teachers.

All students will have the opportunity to create their own reports for the program and website.

Staff Positions
Web Administrator
Researchers
Interviewers
Hosts
Program Schedulers
Advertisers
Editors
Translators
Transcribers
Program Director
Audio tech

That's just a rough sketch of the staffing ideas that I have. As time progress, I will elaborate more in detail on the roles.

Equipment
Laptop (I own one but it is on its last leg)
Audio Recorder
Recording software
Video Camera (?) I'm not sure that I will include videos with the podcast program or website

That is all for right now. Please feel free to post opinions, thoughts or ideas.