Trying to raise $350 to support a camp for kids who've lost a parent in war

[Dan Spurgin]

http://dan.elearndesign.org/run

As some of you may know, I'm attempting my first marathon this Oct 25th out in D.C. - The Marine Corps Marathon. As part of my efforts I've agreed to help a tiny non-profit called Knights of Heroes raise $500. The $$$ goes towards their yearly efforts to fly kids who've lost a parent in war out to Colorado for a week so they can just be kids and develop some much needed mentoring relationships.

I'm collecting donations of $25, $10, $5 or whatever folks can afford. If you're interested in finding out a little more and want to know how to send a contribution, goto this URL:

http://dan.elearndesign.org/run

Thanks! ;P

[Dan Spurgin]

Maybe we can ALSO turn this into a discussion about whether I should have used the list serve to send out a blast about this fund raising.

What SHOULD the idt list serves be used for?

What SHOULDN'T they be used for?

Do we need more list serves? Or maybe better ways of getting in touch with folks we want to get in touch w/ when where not in class?

[Jennifer Gibson]

"we're" (not where) <3 Dan

As far as staying in touch with IDT folks, I'm still all for a persistent message board for all IDT students (and alumni) that is either within the school's LMS like our Blackboard courses but not tied to a specific class, or part of the Buzz-in area like our email and announcements. Participants/postings should not disappear or lose access between semesters, and should be able to communicate through the systems they're already using, without having to keep up with more add-ons and networking areas, signing up for memberships, or putting up with advertisements, pop-ups, fees, or legal or security concerns. If this is/becomes our designated area for out-of-class communication, mentioned frequently within our program, with consistent use by instructors and students, such that it becomes an ingrained habit for everyone, then that's great, but I worry that not everyone will take advantage of this site. There are so many social sites and RSS publishings these days that people can get overwhelmed or miss things.

~Jennifer Gibson

p.s. Ouch, the Marine Corps Marathon, wow... good luck, and you are insane hun ;)

[Dan Spurgin]

THANK-YOU for your generous gift, Jennifer!

Agreed on the whole "sign up for another account on another site I've got to remember" pandemic that's going around.

Most solutions have been forced down to the grassroots -- a million different classes using a million different approaches to communication. Sure, the top of the tree is springing for technology (aka Blackboard) but nobody up top is doing much about the other half of the problem -- which is to generate a comprehensive plan that actually integrates these selected technologies into the daily lives of learners/teachers.

If you build it, they will come.... AND THEN THEY WILL WALK AWAY if you don't have a plan that integrates a few choice technologies into their everyday lives.

[Heather Corley]

Hey Dan. My husband is also running the Marine Corps Marathon, for the Love Without Boundaries team. I'm running/crawling the 10K. I'm excited to see the whole event in action! Good luck this weekend.

[Dan Spurgin]

SWEET!!!! Good to know that I am not going to be the only Kansan out there! Obviously, good luck to you and your husband. When are you going out? I'm flying out with my wife and 10 month old son on Saturday, (figured if I went out earlier I might end up in some Alexandria VA pub taking in pre-race beer carbs).

If you're in DC and need a hand, friend, etc... 785-550-0685. Or you can call my wife, Angie, at 785-550-9383. You never know! ;P

p.s. Love w/out boundaries? What a ludicrous ideas *hee hee*

[Dan Spurgin]

How'd your husband do? The last 4 miles were pretty tough on my feet but got it in under 5 hrs! (4:52).

[Dan Spurgin]

Thanks to all of you who supported me in my marathon effort - and a special shout out to those who donated $$$ to Knights of Heroes on my behalf. The night before the race I ended up eating w/ the Knights of Heroes folk (basically a bunch of marines and ex-marines, kids, families, and me :P).

Finished the Marine Corps marathon in 4hrs, 52 minutes... had to force my achin' feet and knees to join me at the finish line.

THANKS AGAIN IDT GANG!

[Jennifer Gibson]

Well done!

[Dan Spurgin]

WELL DONE TO YOU, JENNIFER! Heard the great news, winner! ;P

[Jennifer Gibson]

Haha, a good year for us both =)

[Dan Spurgin]

You reap what you sow! Time to go scatter some more seed! ;P