The Ipad changed the digital device landscape. The device was released in 2010. Since then, over 200 million devices have been sold, many of those to school districts (over 8 million directly to school districts) hoping to capitalize on the devices multiple capabilities. Speaking of capabilities, there are dual cameras taking video and still shots, a speedy processor and at least 16 gigabytes of storage. The real capacity happens in the app store with millions of apps that drive the device. From presentation, word processing, music production, video and everything in between, the app store has it all.
All this makes the iPad a great tool. However, is it the best tool for early learners (K-12)? I'm not convinced. I use my iPad a lot, but I still find myself lugging around my laptop to do any kind of creation. (Lesson, assignments, even email). The troubling aspect (for the millions of schools buying them) of the iPad is that it is a media consuming device, not a creating device. For creating, individuals still use their laptops. The iPad and tablets are a distant second in content creating devices.
As is the case too often in public education especially, schools have jumped on the latest trend in technology without fully considering the consequences. Its easy to think, "Oh, tablets are the future so if I want my school and students to be ahead of the game lets get iPads," harder to consider deeper trends in digital learning and Web 2.0 trends.
This post might come across cynical but it isn't intended to be. I believe every student in the world should be in a 1 to 1 environment. (In the USA its more like 5 students to 1 device on average) I am grateful that I get to work in a 1 to 1 school but I also know that things cost money and choices have consequences. I just hope its in the best interest of our students to put a $500.00+ iPad in their hands above all other devices available.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
My Personal Learning Network (PLN)
Social Networks
Twitter is my favorite for professional specifics. I am still learning how to best create and post original content to twitter, but I enjoy scrounging up as much information as possible and then re-posting or commenting on posts. These are some of my favorites:
I met Ben at an edcamp conference in Denver. He is one of the few people I have met in person. I agree with most of his philosophies on education and learning. Ben is much more active than I am, with 1000’s of followers and following 1000’s himself. His posts are always informative.
Edutopia became mainstream around the same time I became an educator (2008). The site itself is amazing. Twitter allows for a picking and choosing of articles, research, tools posted on the amazing network/ site that is Edutopia. You go George Lucas!!!!
Glen Moses works for Denver Public Schools. He is an amazing leader in the area of learning technologies. Another in the flesh acquaintance, he and I share a disruptive philosophy of education and learning.
Tech Facts is unique entity on twitter (not always easy to find). They typically tweet “facts” about technology, such as, “The first webcam was designed to monitor a coffee maker.” I like it because it helps me jumpstart my thinking sometimes.
EdSurge is another group/ twitter entity that has a large following. I use it for up to date technology news and tips. EdSurge is on the pulse of where technology and education are moving. A very handy resource.
Content
Google: Google does a lot for the web. It has become a verb! (in the dictionary). Through my very favorite and best search tool, I have accumulated a plethora of content learning tools as well, including:
The incomparable John Green, world famous author and amazing educator. Green created an entire series on history that is short enough to keep anyone’s attention while simultaneously introducing complex historiography and non-fiction mindset.
This is the High School History teacher everyone wishes they had. His approach to History is both new school and traditional at the same time. A gem.
Thank You Fordham University for creating a mountain of content on many history subjects. The primary document reading are indispensable.
Government archives that are approachable to all learners. Perfect. Accompanied by documents that help students focus on the doing of history.
Whenever I need a math tutorial of any kind, this is where I go. Sal Khan, teacher to the world. He and his academy started and continue to drive the flipped classroom revolution.
Video
YouTube has also joined Google in the newest verb category. (Google owned so it makes sense) From working on my Jeep to conspiracy theories I have my favorite Youtube channel tools and so should you. These are the channels most associated trends and practices in online/ blended learning.
Where would any 21st learner be without TED. Inspiring, innovative, mesmerizing, TED is the gateway to 100’s of deeper content areas, including how learning is changing.
A little too much Arne Duncan for my liking, but its always a good idea to keep an eye on what “The Man” is up to. A great resource for coming trends and initiatives like the Common Core.
Vice was once a skateboard company, it has now morphed into one of the best journalism networks on the planet. Watch the HBO show for what is really going on, not the canned drivel presented by the mainstream media outlets.
From classroom management to tech integration, The Teaching Channel has what any educator can benefit from, advice and tips from other educators.
A channel dedicated to metacognition and understanding the human experience/ condition. From meditation to chaos theory, the videos from bigthink are a big deal.
Lesson Planning
Lesson planning in the digital age is as personal as it gets. These tools help me create amazing, totally digital plans and content for my teaching.
A great place for digital literacy and writing tools. Caution to Mac users, much is flash based but there are always workarounds. Keep read write think bookmarked for when you have to do just that with your class.
This is selfishly a perfect resource for those teaching economics. I include it because economics is a major driver of trends, including those in digital learning.
The latest incarnation in reading practice, the excerpts and questions are all based on the coming standardized tests (PARCC, CMAS, Common Core based). Great readings with a digital twist. Humanities teachers dream.
By teachers for teachers. You can even buy from teachers. Lots of free resources/ plans. Its also fun and inspiring to see others in our chosen profession rocking out amazing lessons.
Tons of great lessons, although based mostly on discovery channel content. The Discovery Channel is a neat company that can create amazing media, so teachers should definitely take advantage.
Blogging/ Research
Tumblr is a great blogging platform/ Social Network for bloggers. I don’t post to it much, but I do extend my learning network with it. The images alone are worth a registration, you will be hooked once you start scrolling. The following are a handful of the folk I follow, specifically related to trends and practices in online/ blended education.
Positively, is just that, positive. A welcome respite from the gloomy news educators can find themselves in some days.
A graduate student/ professor at the University of Wyoming has a unique perspective on politics and Western life. A great techy type to follow for humor and learning alike.
A group of people dedicated to workshops, collaborative efforts, all in the morning. I’m a morning person so I had to follow.
A traditional English teacher in a not so traditional world. She keeps everyone on their toes with her work ethic and cat pictures. A great resource for teaching writing.
Friday, May 11, 2012
JP Morgan Chase Bailout Bros
Oh JP Morgan Chase super bank how we love to hate you. So apparently this amalgamation of financial wizardry
fraud lost 2 billion dollars last quarter.
Gee thanks dude bros, I thought we were buds after, you know, we bailed
your asses out of financial collapse.
Apparently not, apparently you are up to your old tricks again, taking
huge risks, for albeit huge rewards, but still come on dudes? Not cool!
The New York Times reported that JP lost all the booty on a “misguided
hedging strategy,” taking large positions in the credit default swap
index. FT Alphaville’s Lisa Pollak
barked, “they may have really screwed the pooch on this one.” Dealbreakers chief mister wizard math guy
Matt “the lizard” Levine said, “this was not driven by the market moving
against them (though it seems to have), it was driven by them getting the math
wrong.” Thanks Matt, for that
keen insight into the exciting world of financial bullshittery.
The Bank of Morgan received 25 Billion from we the people and this
is how you spend our jack JP? Not
cool. The OG Financial goliath the Bank
is named after, the JP Morgan, would not be impressed. He bought railroads, flipped the script on
2000 times and bailed out the government, and was generally a ruthless
capitalist of the highest accord. He may
or may not have been the inspiration for the Monopoly guy. But seriously, this is how you do us? It’s like, “OK here you go pyromaniac pedophile
with a hand-grenade you burned down and raped the whole world, but you say you
will be a lot more responsible with this flamethrower, here you go, we trust
you….wait what? You are burning shit
again….”
So I guess get mad at the banks and bankers, but are they really
to blame? They are doing what they do. The American people, however, can look in the
mirror to find the blame for electing leaders completely beholden and willing
to surrender billions of their money for JP Morgan Chase to burn.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
That
So. How about
that? The word means an infinite
possibility of awesome. True that. Wud up with that. This and that. That is hardly that. I mean that is all that. Think about it for a minute. Aside from the boring old words the, and, or
evil step sisters there, their, and they’re.
What do you use more on a regular basis?
That will continue to surprise you too?
What about popular slang or birthing adage, “That just happened.” Its one of my favorites, especially when
people fall down and stuff. Or, “that
guy” coupled with “And then there’s that guy.”
You are insulting someone without even doing it. And isn’t that the beauty of that, the
ambiguity, the mystery, the disdain for actual detail.
That sits on a crown (see you still don’t exactly know if I’m
talking about the actual word or something else) of language use, matched by few
if any equals. It hums as a restrictive
relative clause (“He took a test that was hard”). Kills it as a pronoun all on its magnificent
own, (“That was hard”). Blows up worlds
as an adjective, (“That test was hard”).
Keeps it on lock complementizing/ subordinating conjuctions. (“She asked that he go.”) And finally, just
to be a badass, that rolls as an adverb (“The weather wasn’t that bad.”)
That sure is great.
But some people, mostly those with worthless English degrees, trying to
teach a bunch of blind homeless people how to read. Think that, shouldn’t be used so much. That, that has no place in a formal
essay. That, that can’t be that great. Well, in the words of the great orator Sir
Mix-a-Lot, “I ain’t down with that.”
(But actually I am…Down with that…not that) Monday, August 22, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Procrastination
Here I sit, so distracted all the time. Is it distraction or in reality something I have struggled with my entire life, ADD. I have done a great deal of research lately, on the effects of ADD and have come to realize that I definitely have it. I am able to manage it but lately it has really come into focus for me, or un-focused as I try to manage an ever complicating life, especially professionally. I guess I'm lucky to be made of stronger stuff that allows me the opportunity to work as a teacher, camp director and graduate student, but damnit sometimes I long for the days of roofing houses, where I could go to work to not think. Well back to this assignment.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
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